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Greater Miami
is made up of more than 30 municipalities, and tourist favorites Miami
and Miami Beach are only two of the cities that make up what is actually
Miami-Dade County. Within Greater Miami, addresses fall into four quadrants:
NW, NE, SW, and SE. The north-south dividing line is Flagler Street, and
the east-west dividing line is Miami Avenue. Numbering starts from these
axes and gets higher the farther away an address is from them. Avenues
run north-south and streets east-west. Some municipalities have their own
street naming and numbering systems, including Miami Beach, Coral Gables,
Coconut Grove, and Key Biscayne, so a map is a good idea. In South Beach,
all north-south roads are named, and the main drags are Ocean Drive, Collins,
and Washington avenues, and Alton Road. Streets are numbered and run east-west;
First Street is at the beach's southernmost point, and numbers get higher
as you head north.
What makes a beach 'exotic'?
Quite simply they need to stand out from the crowd. Coconuts and powder-like
sand help too. The destinations shown here are located around the world.
We have included beaches that are ideal for swimming or snorkeling as well
as great places to party. Others are quite simply stunning to look at.
Remember to pack the right gear once you have decided on your destination.
A beach holiday doesn’t mean you have to turn into a cooked lobster. Stay
safe, lather up on the sunscreen and drink lots of water.
Two miles offshore from Miami
is the barrier island Miami Beach. Ocean Drive, along the southern end
of Miami Beach, is a lively stretch of roadway. This strip is a favorite
among residents and visitors with its fascinating architecture, stunning
beaches, many restaurants, sidewalk cafes, hotels, bars and its nice walkway
along the beach. South Pointe Park on the southern most end of this barrier
island is a great family beach of fine golden sand, overlooking the Port
of Miami cruise and cargo ship traffic.
Discover two major Greater Miami
outlet malls, where the assortments are vast and the low prices are too-hard-to-resist.
The Dolphin Mall is home to more than a dozen major anchor stores and more
than 200 smaller shops and entertainment options. The other value center,
Prime Outlets, has more than 30 unique shops.
Rascal House has been a Miami
Beach institution since 1954. No visit to Miami is complete without a stop
at Wolfie's place for (at a minimum!) a bagel, corned beef sandwich and
a healthy sized piece of cheesecake. Beware -- Rascal House does not take
reservations and the legendary lines stretch around the corner into the
rear parking lot on even the slowest nights.
Shopping may not seem
like a must for some but the stores, outlet malls and boutiques in Florida
make it worth your while. Besides, it isn’t healthy to stay in the sun
all day and shopping is considered an exercise, well it is to some of us.
If you love the outdoors though head over to the Everglades National Park
and take in the stunning beauty that thrives here. Just keep your arms
in – there is no need for you to tempt the local wildlife. Too much adventure?
Florida also has a plethora of fantastic golf courses for you to perfect
your swing.
It would be near impossible
to write about Florida and not to mention the amusement parks. People from
around the globe flock to these fantastic places just to feel like a kid
again. Although there are quite a few wonderful places worth mentioning
we will focus on the two best-known parks. First, there’s Disney World.
Made up of four areas you will have more than enough activity to keep you
busy. Explore Magic Kingdom, Epcot Center, MGM Studios and Animal Kingdom.
There are also two fantastic water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon,
to help you cool off from the Florida sun. Bush Gardens takes you to Africa
without using up all your air miles. See exotic animals up close and scream
till you’re hoarse on the fantastic rides. Whether you decide to enjoy
the spectacular 3-D shows, zoom up (and down) intense roller coasters or
simply take part in a safari, Bush Gardens will leave you wanting more.
For those of us over the age of 21, the refreshments here are worth trying
as well.
If you’re in the mood for
fun in the sun, shopping, dining and having a fantastic time then Florida
is the state for you.
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